Footprints of the Devil: Murder and Mystery in a Cornish Seaside Village

DCI Channon Mystery #2

by Olive Etchells

Championship surfer Dave Treganza returns to his native Cornwall for a visit, only to find his sister-in-law and aunt in turmoil because Jonathan, his brother, has disappeared without trace. Before long Jonathan’s body is discovered down a derelict tin mine. Another murder soon follows, and DCI Channon and his assistant, Sergeant Bowles — two men with clashing personalities — must work together to unmask a ruthless killer.

Genres: Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2006

About the author

Olive Etchells was born in Lancashire, England. She has been writing for many years and is best known for her Jericho Rose Lancashire sagas.

She writes under two other names: Liza
Manning and Rachel Murray. Both names are used for romance fiction.

Series:
* DCI Channon Mystery

Reviews

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Footprints of the Devil, by Olive Etchells, is a combination British cozy and police procedural: the "cozy" aspect being the setting of a small Cornish (home of my ancestors) village where everybody knows and looks out for everybody else, and the "police procedural" part being the outside, but still Cornish, police force that comes to the village to investigate two mysterious deaths. Champion surfer Dave Tregenza abruptly left Porthmenna 7 years ago, baffling and angering his older brother Jonathan and aunt/guardian Frances. He returns just as abruptly, called home by a premonition that is shortly, and sadly, confirmed - brother Jonny is missing, and soon found dead. Not just dead, but murdered....When a second body is found, the thoughtful and insightful DCI Channon is brought in to supplement the work of DS Bowles, a prickly man with ambitions; but they are starting at a disadvantage as almost a week has elapsed since both men disappeared. Will they be able to sort out the facts, and will the close-knit but often closed-mouthed villagers help or hinder them in their quest for the truth? And what is the role of the Goonhilly earth satellite station, a huge facility near the village that is a likely target for terrorists? This is a fun and clever read, with some nice characterizations and an intricate plot - it's not often that I don't guess the killer before that person is revealed, but I didn't guess it here, a high accolade indeed for a mystery! Recommended.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 murders in Cornwall. Nice fast read

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy writing style, but the mystery was easily deduced half way through the book.

[JenniferB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable but old fashioned. Far fetched. Set in Cornwall.